Broom-brace.



M. HOLTS.

BROOM BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1912.

1,041,084, Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

UIT@ 'STATES PANT UFFICE.

MACK I-IOLTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BROOM-BRACE.

Application led March 21, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MACK IIoL'rs.. a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broonrlraces; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in broom bridles or braces.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device of this character designed to clasp the straws of the broom head a few inches above their sweeping ends whereby the straws are sustained and stitfened and the life of the broom thus prolonged.

`With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construct-ion and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter' more fully de scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view oit' a broom head equipped with this improved brace. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the clamping or encircling member. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sect-ion through the overlapping ends of said clamp. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the handle engaging band. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the connecting elements which unites the handle band with the straw clamp. Fig. 6 is a similar View of the other element.

In the embodiment illustrated the bridle comprises a straw encircling or clamping member 1 which is adjustable to fit broom heads of different sizes and is here shown in the form of two U-shaped straps 2 and 3 with their cross bars disposed in opposite directions and their legs overlapping and mounted to slide on each other being held in sliding engagement by clips 4 and One leg of one strap is provided with a plurality of apertures G designed to be engaged by an inturned lug 7 on the adjacent leg of the other member' whereby said straps are held in adjusted position. The apertures 6 are longitudinally spaced to provide for the lengthening or shortening of the clamping member 1.

A split band 8 is designed to encircle the broom handle preferably adjacent the head Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

Serial No. 685,257.

and has two outwardly extending apertured lugs or ears 9 through which a thumb screw 10 extends and is adapted to be tightened to secure the band firmly on the broom handle. r1`his band S is provided at diametrically opposite points with notches or recesses 11 to receive the upper elements of the connecting devices which connect the straw clamp and the handle engaging` band. Each connecting device comprises two slidably engaged members 12 and 13, the upper member 12 being preferably constructed in the form shown in Fig. 5 of heavy wire having a curved body portion 1li designed to tit over the curved upper end of one edge of the broom head and having a straight bandengaging portion 15 at one end and a transversely arranged loop 1G at itsother end. The terminal of the band engaging portion 15 is bent laterally outward at right angles as shown at 15 and is adapted to extend over the upper edge of the band S ns is shown clearly in Fig. 1.

The transverse loop 16 at the lower or outer end of the member 12 is adapted to `fit over and slidably engage thc cooperating member 13 of the connecting device which member 13 is preferably constructed of heavy wire in the form of an inverted U with an eye 17 formed in its cross bar through which the body portion of the .inember 12 passes and on which member 12 the member 13 is adapted to slide. The legs of the member 13 are provided with oppositely disposed notches or crimps 1S those in each leg being longitudinally spaced and those of one leg arranged in transverse alinement with those of the other leg.

The outer or lower ends of the legs of the member 13 are bent upwardly to form longitudinally disposed loops 19 which aline with cach other and through which the straw clamping member 1 is designed to pass. The wire from which the member 13 is formed is more or less resilient and the legs thereof have a tendency to spring apart and are held against spreading beyond a predetermined point by the loop 16 of the member 12 as shown in Fig. 1, said loop engaging when in adjusted position a pair of oppositelj1 disposed notches in the legs of the member 13 whereby the members are held against sliding accidentally. IVhen it is desired to lengthen or shorten the distance between the band 8 and clamp 1 the legs of the member 13 are pressed toward each other to disengage the loop 16 from the notches therein and said member 13 and the clamp 1 to which it is connected may then be moved 'freely toward or away from the band 8 to vary the distance between them. lt is of course understood that there are two of these connecting devices employed, one at each edge of the broom head.

lf desired an auxiliary loop 2O may be engaged with the legs of the member 13 adjacent the clamp l as shown in Fig. 1 and is designed to hold the legs against spreading at this point; but this loop :2O may omitted it not found necessary or desirable.

WYhile the straw clamp has been described as composed of two slidable members it may be otherwise constructed if desired, provided it be adjustable.

I claim as my invention:

1 A broom bracecomprising a head encircling clamp, a handle engaging member, and a connecting device for said clamp and member composed of slidably engaged elements one of which is adapted to be connected with said clamp and the other with said member, one `of said elements having longitudinally spaced notches and the othei' having a loo-p tor engagement with said notches to hold said elements in adjusted position.

2. A broom brace comprising a head encircling` clamp, a handle engaging member, and a connecting device for said clamp and member composed of slidably engaged elements one of which is adapted to be connected with said clamp and the other with said member, and one of which has parallel legs provided with longitudinally spaced notches, and the other having a loop arranged transversely thereof in which said legs are adapted to slide, said legs being adapted to spring apart to cause the notches thereof to engage said loop and thereby hold said elements in adjusted position.

S. A broom brace comprising a head encircling clamp, a handle engaging member, and a connecting device for said clamp and member composed of adjustably connected elements, one of which isv provided at one end with means for detachably engaging said handle engaging member and at its other end with a transversely arranged loop, the other element being in the form of an inverted U with means at the ends of its legs for detachable engagement with said clamp, said legs having oppositely disposed notches, said inverted U-shaped element being slidably mounted in the loop of the other element with its legs tending to spread apart and engage the notches thereof with said loop,

4L. A broom brace comprising an adjustable head encircling clamp, an adjustable handle engaging band, a connecting device for said clamp and band composed of adjustably connected elements, one of which is formed. of heavy wire curved to tit the curved edge of the broom head and provided at one end with a straight portion to iit said band and having its terminal bent outwardly to engage the top of said band, the other end of said element being bent to form a transversely arranged loop, the other element of said connecting device being formed of heavy wire bent into inverted c shape with an eye in its cross bar and loops on its legs to receive said clamp, said legs being adapted to pass through the loop ot the other element and having notches formed therein for engagement with the opposite ends ot said loop, the body portion of said iirst mentioned element passing loosely through the eye in the cross bar of the other element.

5. A broom brace comprising a head encircling clamp, a handle engaging bland having oppositely-disposed recesses in its inner face, a connecting device for said clamp and band composed of adjustably connected ele-- ments, one of which is formed ot heavy wire curved to lit the curved edge of the broom head and provided at one end with a straight portion to lit in one ot the recesses of said band and having its terminal bent youtwardly to engage the top of the band, the

other element of said connecting device being provided with means for engaging said clamp.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MACK HOLT S'.

Witnesses J. H. SAVAGE, Giras. W. DANmLs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi atents, Washington, D. C. 

